She said: “The demographics for here have stayed the same, but people have less money in their pockets than they had then.

“It’s harder work for less money because the price of our food had been reduced in line with our competitors.

“The size of the menu has got smaller, but the quality is better.”

However, Ms McCarthy said the range of beers had probably increased by about 40 per cent.

The menu changes regularly and dishes on offer now include British favourites like sausage and mash or something a little more exotic, such as blackened Cajun Salmon Fillet. A snack and lunchtime menu is also available.

There is a patio at the back and the open fireplace blazes indoors in the winter.

A customer nominating the pub was also impressed with the venue’s annual participation in the Reading in Bloom competition.

She said: “It’s a friendly, busy pub. What I love particularly are the hanging baskets they put out which give pleasure to everyone, not just their customers.”

The pub also offers entertainment with occasional live jazz music and staff and customers regularly hold charity fundraising events, particularly for Sue Ryder.

Ms McCarthy suggests three steps which would help pubs thrive – stop supermarkets selling cheap alcohol, stop raising the tax on alcohol so much and allow a small section of pubs to be smoking.

She added: “It’s all very well people saying how sad it is local pubs are closing but we need them to come to the pub, not just at Easter and Christmas.

“I’m not saying go out every night and drink like a fish but use the pub for club meetings and things like that.”

Readers are being invited to nominate their favourite pub by completing and sending in the form published in tomorrow’s Reading Post.